CASE STUDY
Gastown Font © & Stamp Seals
Turning Canadian heritage details into thoughtful modern product design.
100%
Canadian
Display
Serif Custom Font
Project: Product Design (Typeface)
Inspiration: Gastown neighbourhood
Industry: Design, Typography, & Product Innovation
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Timeframe: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Role: Product Designer, Researcher, & Type Designer
Tools: HTML\CSS, Claude, OpenAI, Adobe Creative Suite.
Background
The Gastown Font © project was born from this environment. Inspired by the neighborhood’s architectural rhythm and ornamental details, I set out to create a typeface that reflects its fusion of history and modernity. The goal was to translate the physical qualities of Gastown, the geometry, the warmth, and the enduring craft, into a contemporary digital expression of design.
Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, known for its cobblestone streets, vintage streetlights, and the iconic steam clock that releases puffs of vapor into the air every quarter hour. Once an industrial hub, it has transformed into a vibrant cultural district filled with design studios, boutiques, and cafés that blend the charm of the past with the creativity of the present.
The heart of Gastown beats through its clock, lamps, and timeless architecture.
Problem:
My research began with an on-site exploration of Gastown, observing the textures, materials, and visual rhythm that define its identity. I studied the neighborhood’s most distinctive landmarks — the steam clock, the ornate streetlights, and the long, narrow form of Hotel Europe — whose triangular structure inspired the font’s linear composition.
Opportunities
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To open B2B and B2C possibilities by promoting the font to local businesses and social networks.
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To design a distinctive and meaningful typeface that captures the essence and character of Vancouver’s Gastown neighborhood.
Solution:
To address the lack of authenticity in traditional souvenirs, I designed Gastown Font ©, a custom typeface inspired by the character and heritage of Vancouver’s Gastown. Drawing from the steam clock, vintage streetlights, and the sharp lines of Hotel Europe, I created a design that embodies the neighborhood’s warmth, geometry, and architectural spirit.
By transforming cultural heritage into a functional design asset, Gastown Font © becomes more than typography. It is a modern des
Research & Discoveries
Through sketches, photography, and visual analysis, I identified recurring geometric patterns and decorative motifs that give Gastown its character. These insights became the foundation for Gastown Font ©, allowing me to translate the neighborhood’s architectural poetry into a refined, modern typographic system.
My research began with an on-site exploration of Gastown, observing the textures, materials, and visual rhythm that define its identity. I studied the neighborhood’s most distinctive landmarks — the steam clock, the ornate streetlights, and the long, narrow form of Hotel Europe — whose triangular structure inspired the font’s linear composition.
Every single detail of the font has been typographically analyzed
Form, Versatility, & Style
The Gastown Font © works exceptionally well across different formats and designs because of its strong balance between elegance and structure. Its high-contrast strokes, refined curves, and ornamental swashes give it versatility—looking sophisticated in print, digital, or branding applications.
The font’s architectural precision and expressive rhythm allow it to stand out in both large display compositions and smaller text treatments, making it adaptable while maintaining its unique character and visual impact.
Test Gastown Font©!
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